Fishing lawsuit could cost state $30 million
JUNEAU (AP) -- A lawsuit by out-of-state commercial fishermen could cost the state $30 million, but the bill will be lower if the state wins an appeal, a state attorney said Monday.

Stevens to reintroduce disaster insurance bill
FAIRBANKS (AP) -- In an attempt to make earthquake and natural disaster insurance more affordable, Sen. Ted Stevens will reintroduce a bill to help insurance companies spread the risk.

Pro-life and pro-choice groups rally at Capitol
JUNEAU (AP) -- Groups on both sides of the abortion issue rallied on the Capitol steps Monday to mark the 28th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.

Research center scientists scrutinize moose menus
KENAI (AP) -- The man and woman walked into a snowy clearing. A cow moose nearby paused and lifted her head, then turned and approached the intruders. She walked right up to the man, thrust her huge nose up to his parka and sniffed intently.

Welfare families face five-year limit
ANCHORAGE (AP) -- Hundreds of Alaska families could be cut from the welfare rolls in the next few years if they don't get more help or extensions on the five-year time limit for receiving assistance, initial state projections show.

Historic Denali hotel to close
ANCHORAGE (AP) -- Denali Park Resorts plans to close the historic 103-room Denali National Park Hotel in September. It's the only hotel within the six million-acre park and preserve.

Study: Alaska ranks No. 1 in households with computers
ANCHORAGE (AP) -- A new report by from the Employment Policy Foundation says the largest percentage of all computer owners live in Alaska, or 67 percent of all households, while the lowest percentage is in Arkansas with 39 percent.

Bush likely to move slowly in California offshore oil fight
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Environmentalists and state officials are wary that President Bush's interest in oil development will spread from the Alaskan tundra to the California coast, where offshore leases containing an estimated 1 billion barrels of oil remain undeveloped.

Stevens seeking seat on Senate Budget Committee
FAIRBANKS (AP) -- Sen. Ted Stevens is hoping to add another powerful committee to his assignments, but the Alaska Republican hasn't yet convinced the Senate majority leader to place him there.

State officials knock negotiating power for doctors' groups
JUNEAU (AP) -- A bill that would allow physicians to band together to negotiate fees and other issues with some health insurance companies drew fire Monday from state insurance regulators and the Department of Law who argued it might raise costs for patients and run afoul of federal law.

College student sues over test requirement
FAIRBANKS (AP) -- A University of Alaska Fairbanks student denied admission to the school's student teaching program because he failed a standardized test is appealing the decision in court.

Study: oil industry spending equals state general fund spending
JUNEAU (AP) -- Alaskans have always looked at the oil flowing from the state's frigid ground as liquid money -- now they can be sure. A new study commissioned by two industry groups found that Big Oil spends about as much money in Alaska each year as the state's government spends from its general fund -- more than $2 billion.

Community Calendar
The Community Calendar lists events and meetings of nonprofit organizations. Deadline for submissions is noon the preceding day. To have your event listed, or to change any information, call 283-7551 or fax 283-3299.

Community Calendar
The Community Calendar lists events and meetings of nonprofit organizations. Deadline for submissions is noon the preceding day. To have your event listed, or to change any information, call 283-7551 or fax 283-3299.

T-200: Yes or no?
The race is on. Or at least it will be. The 2001 Tustumena 200 Sled Dog Race has been postponed from this weekend to the weekend of Feb. 3 and 4.

Photo feature: In search of winter
Kourtney and Mike Gheen and Russ Coxey use snowshoes to make their way up a slope in Turnagain Pass Monday for an afternoon of snowboarding.

Anniversary Remembered
Peter Bigel of Soldotna, right, looks on as other protesters march down the Kenai Spur Highway near Bridge Access Road at dusk in Kenai Monday.

Photo feature: Getting a grip on winter
Leif Kjostad and his daughter Sasha tie bags of sand as George and Yasko Lehtinen load up behind them at a sand pile the city of Kenai stocks for the public off Willow Street just past the animal shelter.

KPC, school district initiative succeeds
Kenai Peninsula educators at various levels are working together more closely than ever. As evidence of the trend, Kenai Peninsula College Director Ginger Steffy and College Council Chair Peter Larson addressed the school board Monday about the Kenai Peninsula Borough's Jump Start program.

Weather buoy for Barren Islands gets OK
HOMER -- A year-long effort by Homer charter skipper Bob Ward to get better weather information for mariners has paid off -- the new federal budget includes $1.7 million for information-transmitting sea buoys in Alaska, including one in lower Cook Inlet.

Crime Stoppers alert
Kenai Peninsula Crime Stoppers Inc. is offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of persons responsible for vehicle theft.

Peggy Jo Steik
Former Ninilchik resident Peggy Jo Steik died Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2001, in Palmer after an extended illness. She was 56. By her side were her husband, Alvin Steik, and daughters Anna Grant, Suzette Marey and Noelle Hatten.

Garrett James Ross
Garrett James Ross, formerly of Anchorage and Nikiski, died Saturday, Jan. 13, 2001, in West Jordan, Utah. He was 23.

Bush education plan helps public, private schools
WASHINGTON -- President Bush, seeking Democratic support for an education package submitted to Congress on Tuesday, promised more help to troubled schools before shifting more federal funds to private institutions.

Clinton's complicated legacy
How will history judge the presidency of William Jefferson Clinton? We can, of course, only guess. Any speculation we migh

On Roe v. Wade's 28th anniversary, fight goes on
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Welcomed by the new president and led in prayer by a U.S. senator, thousands of abortion foes staged their annual march on the nation's capital Monday to protest the 28th anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion.

President seeks unity, union
President Bush's Inaugural Address was the best speech of his life. He sought to stir what is best in the hearts of every American. The speech lacked hubris, but exhibited humility. It acknowledged flaws in individuals, but lauded our national character.

Research center scientists scrutinize moose menus
KENAI (AP) -- The man and woman walked into a snowy clearing. A cow moose nearby paused and lifted her head, then turned and approached the intruders. She walked right up to the man, thrust her huge nose up to his parka and sniffed intently.

Pet of the week
The Soldotna Animal Shelter is featuring a medium-sized female mixed breed puppy for $84 with vaccinations, license and spay surgery included.

KPC course aims to help tackle winter blues
Kenai Peninsula residents will learn ways to tackle depression and winter blues in a course called Defeating Depression, this weekend at Kenai Peninsula College. This one-credit psychology course will be Friday and Saturday at the Soldotna campus.

Having a ball!
Often teens relate to schools other than their own through competition. Sometimes that competition can turn negative.

Around the District
Sterling Head Start is getting ready to begin its preschool program Monday.Kenai schools to hold talent showCharter school starts enrollment lottery
Author visits area schoolsVFW offers scholarshipsKMS announces Students of the MonthCollege board tests coming upChallenger Center announces contest winners

Lewis confidently tackles media blitz
TAMPA, Fla. -- The session began with a wave of reporters and cameramen streaming onto the field at Raymond James Stadium, many making a beeline for the big guy at Station 7.

Panthers cagers split with Bulldogs
The Nikiski girls got solid minutes from their backup backcourt players while the Skyview boys had a monstrous night at the foul line as both earned nonconference victories Tuesday night at Skyview.

Collins, Billick, Lewis add drama to Super Bowl
TAMPA, Fla. -- The Super Bowl took on the tenor of a daytime talk show Monday, filled with heartwrenching confessionals, stunning accusations and a rapt audience held captive, not wanting to miss the next revelation.

Threes are the charm as Bucks beat Knicks
MILWAUKEE -- Sam Cassell had 22 points and the Bucks hit a franchise record 14 3-pointers Tuesday night to beat the Knicks 105-91 and snap New York's NBA-record 33-game streak of holding their opponent under 100 points.